Zampa, the Melbourne Stars leg-spinner, has been selected in place of off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series, with selectors opting to prepare Lyon for the Test series that follows the ODIs.

Zampa for Lyon is the only change to the squad that beat India 4-1 in the VB ODI Series, with quick bowler Josh Hazlewood also returning from a rest after playing the first match against India in Perth.

"We want Nathan to use the NSW versus West Australia Sheffield Shield match in New Zealand as preparation for the Test Series and this will give us a chance to have a good look at Adam ahead of the ICC World T20," said National Selector Rod Marsh.

"Adam has certainly put forward a strong case for selection through good performances in the KFC Big Bash as well as the Matador Cup earlier in the season and we think he has thoroughly earned this opportunity."

Zampa finished BBL|05 with 12 wickets at 22.5, and was bettered only by Adelaide Strikers' England international Adil Rashid's 16 at 14.12 among slow bowlers in the Big Bash.

Zampa was involved in one of the most unique dismissals in cricket history during the BBL season, running out Melbourne Renegades batsman Peter Nevill after the ball deflected off his nose.

WATCH: Zampa nose best

He was also the bowler who brought the curtain down on the career of Australian great Mike Hussey, bowled after missing a slog sweep attempt in his final domestic game in Australia.

Zampa has also leapt above Australia's incumbent T20 leggie Cameron Boyce, who famously made a 33,000km round trip between Brisbane and Cardiff to concede 19 runs in one over in Australia's only T20 match against England last winter.

WATCH: Zampa picks up two in Big Final, including Hussey

Boyce had 11 wickets at 22.09 for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash, but has fallen down the pecking order with Queensland.

In the summer-opening Matador Cup, Zampa had 11 wickets at 39, conceding 5.37 runs per over, compared to Boyce's six wickets at 40.5 albeit with a near identical economy rate.

Khawaja's summer stats make scarcely believable reading. Since the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba in November, Khawaja has rattled off scores of 174, 9*, 121, 109*, 144, 56, 62, 104* and 70. It total 849 runs at 141.5 across all formats.

That equates to 504 Test match runs at 126 against the Black Caps and West Indies, with another 345 at 172.5 in the Big Bash League.

WATCH: Khawaja slams semi-final century against Adelaide

"We know one of the biggest challenges we will face in New Zealand is adapting to the change in conditions. It has been well documented that this is something we have struggled with in recent times and a major focus for this squad will be to reverse that trend," added Marsh.

"The New Zealand side will be very tough to beat in their home conditions. We know we will need to be at the top of our game if we want to be competitive."

WATCH: Super Smith flattens India

Starting on February 3 in Auckland, the one-day series will be the only preparation for several of Australia's Test stars. Captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner are expected to spend extra time training in New Zealand, and will play only the first of three KFC T20 Internationals against India – the Australia Day blockbuster in Adelaide.

Lyon will feature for the Blues in that match, alongside wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and against WA captain Adam Voges.

It means a host of likely Test bowlers will have no preparation on the ground before the Test series. Victoria's James Pattinson is still recovering from shin soreness and Peter Siddle from an ankle complaint. Both will feature against the recalled Jackson Bird and Tasmania at the MCG.

Chadd Sayers is another Test squad member who will not bowl in New Zealand before the Test matches. He will turn out for the West End Redbacks at the Adelaide Oval in their Shield match against the myFootDr Queensland Bulls featuring Australian top order batsmen in opener Joe Burns and No.3 Khawaja.

WATCH: Khawaja sparkles with 70 in Big Final

While Australia have been imperious at home, not losing a Test since November 2012, their record away has been less than impressive.

In their last 10 series played overseas, dating back to the October 2010 tour of India, Australia have won four, lost five and drawn one.

And that’s the primary focus for captain Smith, who in nine Tests at the helm, all at home, is yet to taste defeat.

"That challenge (winning away from home) starts in New Zealand next month and we’ll be preparing for conditions there where we’ll be expecting the pitches to seam and the ball to swing around quite a bit, so that will be a tough one first up," Smith wrote in his cricket.com.au blog.

"Wickets in New Zealand will also be a bit slower than what we’re used to here in Australia, so we’re going to have to adapt more quickly than we’ve been able to in some other overseas tours and make sure we’re ready to go from the moment we arrive."